Research abstract
Highlights
- We randomised 50 patients with CFS/ME to receive six months of intermittent high-dose vitamin D or placebo.
- Vitamin D did not improve pulse-wave velocity or flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery compared to placebo.
- Vitamin D did not improve markers of oxidative stress or inflammation compared to placebo.
- Vitamin D did not improve symptoms of fatigue compared to placebo.
Background and aims
Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are common in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome; such patients also manifest impaired vascular health. We tested whether high-dose intermittent oral vitamin D therapy improved markers of vascular health and fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Methods and Results
Parallel-group, double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome according to the Fukuda (1994) and Canadian (2003) criteria were randomised to receive 100,000 units oral vitamin D3 or matching placebo every 2 months for 6 months.
The primary outcome was arterial stiffness measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery, blood pressure, cholesterol, insulin resistance, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, and the Piper Fatigue scale.
50 participants were randomised; mean age 49 (SD 13) years, mean baseline pulse wave velocity 7.8 m/s (SD 2.3), mean baseline office blood pressure 128/78 (18/12) mmHg and mean baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D level 46 (18) nmol/L. 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased by 22nmol/L at 6 months in the treatment group relative to placebo.
There was no effect of treatment on pulse wave velocity at 6 months (adjusted treatment effect 0.0 m/s; 95% CI -0.6 to 0.6; p=0.93). No improvement was seen in other vascular and metabolic outcomes, or in the Piper Fatigue scale at 6 months (adjusted treatment effect 0.2 points; 95% CI -0.8 to 1.2; p=0.73).
Conclusion
High-dose oral vitamin D3 did not improve markers of vascular health or fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Effect of intermittent vitamin D3 on vascular function and symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome – a randomised controlled trial by M.D. Witham, F. Adams, S. McSwiggan, G. Kennedy, G. Kabir, J.J.F. Belch, F. Khan in Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases Published Online: October 22, 2014
